S- Light sweet bourbon hiding a hint of citrus hops and a little bit of oak and graininess. Not overly aromatic, nice level of bourbon however I don't like how it hides the hops.

T- Slightly more citrus then the aroma however no where near as much as the non-BA 08. Finishes with subtle sweet bourbon that isn't too overpowering and balances with the slight citrus well but mutes it a little bit too much.

O- This was an interesting variation however I enjoyed the regular non-BA 08 a lot better especially when I was comparing them side by side. The bourbon added a nice pleasant sweetness to the beer, but I didn't like how it muted the orange/mango citrus hops. Personally I thought the 08 had a lot more flavor and I would take that any day, however this was an interesting variation that I'm glad I was able to try.

*The 08.08.08 is actually a Belgian Golden Ale, but is closer described as a Tripel, as Belgian Golden was not an option of style on the selection list.

Had this on tap as part of a special tasting at Hopleaf, Chicago.

Poured a brownish gold color. Had a bit of an amber look to it but it was lighter. You could really see a difference in how this beer soaked up the wood and bourbon from the barrels. Had about a quarter-inch white head on it.

The smell was of maple syrup and waffle. Sugars and sweetness were very prominent. Small spice notes and some hops, but they were faint.

The taste was sweet at first. Had a bit of the maple syrup flavor on the front of the taste but then gave way to a more apparent bourbon flavor. Brown sugar and dark Belgian candi were obvious. The alcohol was noticeable and brought out a bit more by the bourbon.

It was well balanced and nicely carbonated. Slightly oxidized but nothing that offset the drinking experience. Seemed a little thicker and like it had more body, perhaps due to the oak of the barrel.

This was a pretty good beer, but I would have to say I prefer the non-barrel aged 08.08.08 over this one. It didn't seem like the bourbon barrel added to the flavor or complimented the original brew. I feel privileged to have been able to try this.